Hi, my name is Morgan. I was born and raised in the 505, and I have a deep relationship and love for this land and city. Growing up, I was intrigued by how this city’s architecture and infrastructure influences daily life. Exploring historic downtown streets and hiking trails in the foothills inspired me to see how thoughtful design and access to nature can influence communities.
In the fall of 2022, UNM became my home as I began my undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering. As I work through coursework and get exposed to different research areas, my interests shift, but some of my current interests include: structures, structural health monitoring, sensors, transportation, web design, mathematics, and community infrastructure development. I have been involved in projects improving technology for structural health monitoring, which has inspired my understanding of how engineering can address problems and find efficient solutions. Another project I have been involved in was an outreach focused project. Working with young minds brings me a lot of excitement for the future of transportation and innovation.
Outside of research, I have a leadership role in the UNM Mountaineering club and I am very dedicated to that community. It has given me a beautiful lens to understand social needs and shown me how people can interact and build strong connections. Being outdoors and engaging in physical activity fosters an intimate and less intimidating atmosphere for social interaction. It also builds a sense of shared accomplishment and creates common ground for people to relate on. Since joining outdoor spaces, my confidence in my physical abilities, social capacity, and self compassion have grown tremendously.
I have recently been introduced to the biking community and have enjoyed using biking as a way to commute. Biking helps me feel more present since it engages my body and reminds me to look around and explore the sights and sounds that are natural to the environment I am surrounded by. It also brings the opportunity to interact with strangers and neighbors, creating and a more friendly environment. My family has a tradition of biking to the ballon fiesta every year. Some of my favorite memories of childhood involve watching balloons fill the sky and smelling green chile in the air as I biked along the some of the best bike paths in Albuquerque.
These experiences influence my interest in creating infrastructure and spaces that build community and are conducive to creating connection. I am excited by the RUTA-HC lab, because its vision for a community health aligns perfectly with my values and interests. I have seen how much feeling comfortable with using infrastructure has impacted my personal experience, and so it is easy for me to imagine the impact it could have on a larger scale. Access to transportation is essential for public health. At this lab, I want to find a place in the work towards more evidence-informed infrastructure. I am eager for exposure to projects that address public health challenges through infrastructure solutions.